Rap pioneer Ms. Melodie dead

Sources close to TheUrbanDaily have confirmed that rapper Ms. Melodie, (born Ramona Parker) has died. Ms. Melodie was the ex-wife of rapper KRS-One and was a member of Boogie Down Productions.

Photo: Ms. Melodie with ex-husband KRS-One.

Ms. Melodie released her first single in 1988 called “Hype According to Ms. Melodie” and one album, Diva in 1989 on Jive Records. Her video “Live On Stage” was one of her biggest hits and she made a memorable appearance on the 1989 single “Self Destruction” and has a cameo in Queen Latifah’s video “Ladies First.”

DJ D-Nice of Boogie Down Productions and singer Monifah both expressed their condolences on Twitter.

D-Nice also added, “I had a pleasant conversation w/ Ms. Melodie a month ago. The last thing she said me to me was “I’m proud of you.” The love we all had for each other was genuine. Along the way, some of us lost focus. The love in my heart remained. Scott La Rock, KRS-One, D-Nice, Ms Melodie, & the rest of the BDP crew will always be a part of hip-hip history.”

Ms Melodie was a native of Brooklyn, NY and is survived by two sons. There is no cause of death known at this time, but we will have more on this story as it develops.